Heineken Cup Round-up: Harlequins enjoy day out in Paris while Ospreys rout Treviso

Harlequins maintain 100 per cent record in Pool Four with win over Stade
Francais, Ospreys thrash Treviso as James Hook impresses with the boot and
Gloucester's bonus-point win sees them close on leaders Cardiff in Pool Six.

Harlequins recorded a memorable victory over Stade Francais in Paris to maintain their 100 per cent record in Heineken Cup Pool Four and move a step closer to qualification for the knockout stages.

The Londoners raced into a 12-0 lead by the 25th minute thanks to tries by Tom Williams and Jordan Turner-Hall and resisted a brave fightback from the French club to hold on for the win in front of a massive crowd of 76,569 at the Stade de France.

All Stade's points came when Quins' England scrum-half Danny Care was in the sin-bin at the end of the first half and start of the second half, Juan Manuel Leguizamon scoring a try and his off-colour Argentina team-mate Juan Martin Hernandez booting a conversion and a penalty.

But Nick Evans, who converted Williams' try, kicked a penalty with 13 minutes remaining and some resolute defending in a dramatic final few minutes secured the win for the visitors.

Ospreys romped to a record Heineken Cup win after tearing Treviso apart at the Liberty Stadium.

Ireland wing Tommy Bowe set the tone by scoring three of his four tries in 23 minutes as Ospreys eased past their previous best Heineken Cup victory of 48-17 against Ulster last season.

Scotland international Nikki Walker added a try double, and with flanker Jonathan Thomas also touching down before the break, Pool Three whipping boys Treviso trailed 40-8 at half-time.

The second period proved more of a contest as Treviso restricted Ospreys to a Lee Byrne try during the third quarter, but substitute Shane Williams then pounced to give his team an inevitable half-century of points.

Replacement hooker Ed Shirvington and Bowe completed the rout with touchdowns nine and 10 - fly-half James Hook booted nine conversions - while Treviso had to content themselves with an early Marius Goosen try and Andrea Marcato's 39th-minute penalty.

Leinster strengthened their position at the top of Heineken Cup Pool Two as a trio of second-half tries helped them see off the challenge of Castres Olympique in Dublin.

Bernard Jackman, Brian O'Driscoll and replacement Simon Keogh all crossed the French side's whitewash but Leinster's push for a bonus point try came too late.

On the balance of play and for all their effort, the Irish province would not have deserved the extra point as they were lacklustre in attack for much of the match.

Castres travelled with a mostly second string line-up - injured captain Lionel Nallet was among those missing - and they kept big guns like All Blacks Chris Masoe and Carl Hoeft and quality place kicker Romain Teulet in check for next week's return match.

Gloucester took just 43 minutes to get the bonus point they needed to stay in touch with leaders Cardiff in Pool Six.

Having seen the Blues pip Biarritz 21-17 on Friday night, Gloucester had to score four tries to ensure the gap between them and the leaders remained no more than one bonus-point victory.

Ryan Lamb, Luke Narraway and Marco Bortolami all crossed before the break for the visitors, with Jack Forster adding a crucial fourth.

With England star Mike Tindall on to replace Matthew Watkins, Gloucester were awarded a penalty try when Narraway was prevented from touching down and then Tindall himself intercepted to race clear for try number six.

Olly Barkley converted both to restore the earlier 23-point advantage.